August 17, 1981, Over 85 percent of the 17,500 air
traffic controllers go on strike for better working conditions and improved
wages. Ronald Reagan outraged with the strike informed the air traffic
controller to return back to work or the government would assumed the striking
controllers had quit. By the end of the week over 5,000 PATCO members (Professional
Air Traffic Controllers Organization) has received dismissal notices from
the FAA.

The Federal Courts ordered the union leader to send their works
back to work. However, union leaders refused to do so. The courts began
jailing union leaders, fining the union per day at close to one million
dollars a day. The unions strike fund of more than 3 million dollars was
frozen.

This force the airline industry to cut back services of over 50
percent. Supervisors were required to fill those position left by the striking
controllers. They were assisted by military controllers. Reagan called
for a meeting with the press. Reagan stated to the press that Congress
in 1947 passed a law forbidding strikes by Government employees. Reagan
read aloud the non-strike oath that each air controller, and indeed any
federal employee, must sign upon
hiring. Reagan further stated the strikers are in violation of the law,
and if they do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited
their jobs and will be terminated. Many of the PACO strike members did not
return back to work and as a result were fired.